No one had ever dared say “no” in front of the Ninth Master!

Zhen Jiu’er was the first!

Not only had she said “no,” she had even backed it up with action, openly showing her displeasure and defiance toward the Ninth Master!

Everyone watched, dumbstruck.

Lu Beicheng’s expression darkened like the sky overhead — and indeed, at some point, without anyone noticing, the sky had shifted from clear to strangely dark.

Such eerie weather.

Everyone could only watch helplessly as Zhen Jiu’er walked up to Ren Qiqi, clearly intending to take the gear right out of her hands.

But no one expected that just as Jiu’er’s fingers were about to touch Ren Qiqi’s equipment, a whooshing sound suddenly cut through the air.

As though something had sliced through the empty space.

Everyone only caught a flash of silver light — before they could even make out what it was, they heard Zhen Jiu’er let out a low cry.

She was suddenly lifted clean off the ground!

She flew straight up and away from in front of Ren Qiqi, landing directly in the Ninth Master’s lap!

Everyone was utterly stunned!

Yan Qiu, who had trained in martial arts for many years, had sharper eyes than the rest.

Just now, he had clearly seen the Ninth Master’s hand flick out a silver chain.

That silver chain, unseen for so many years…

Yan Qiu had been at Lu Beicheng’s side for many years, and he understood him nearly as deeply as Ji Mingyu did.

That silver chain hadn’t seen the light of day in a very long time.

He never imagined that after all these years, it would be swung out again — for the sake of one disobedient little girl.

“Let go of me!” Lu Beicheng pulled Zhen Jiu’er onto his lap, tapped his wheelchair, and turned his back on everyone.

“Let go of me!” Jiu’er struggled with all her might to push him away.

But to her astonishment, a man who had sat in a wheelchair for years had such tremendous strength!

No matter how she thrashed, she couldn’t break free even a little.

Finally, in desperation, she lowered her head and bit down hard on the back of Lu Beicheng’s hand.

Ji Mingyu rubbed his nose, realizing he had no way of rescuing the Ninth Master here, and simply waved a hand, signaling everyone to look away.

Ren Qiqi had no choice but to put on the gear herself.

Once everyone else was ready, Yan Qiu also changed into his equipment. Still serving as the team’s leader, he led everyone forward, switching on their flashlights, and they walked into the mausoleum.

At last, everyone had gone inside.

Zhen Jiu’er knew there was no use struggling any further — the temper of the man before her was every bit as fierce as the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s had been.

When he refused, he truly refused, leaving no room for discussion.

Strangely, why did she keep comparing him to the Ninth Imperial Uncle?

But her mood was terrible right now, and she had no wish to dwell on it.

Who exactly was the Northern Emperor? She felt, for reasons she couldn’t explain, deeply uneasy.

“Had enough biting?” Lu Beicheng’s low voice suddenly sounded from above her.

Zhen Jiu’er let go and looked up to glare at him. “I wish I could’ve bitten your hand clean off!”

“You’re welcome to try.”

“You think I wouldn’t dare?” Jiu’er lowered her head once more, this time cradling his hand gently in hers.

Two rows of not-too-deep tooth marks showed on the back of his hand, a faint reddish tinge rising to the surface, though the bite hadn’t gone very deep.

She had calmed down.

“I didn’t mean to defy you.”

As she said this, an inexplicable ache rose in her chest once more.

He clearly wasn’t the Ninth Imperial Uncle, and yet speaking to him now felt just like admitting fault to the Ninth Imperial Uncle.

Sometimes, even she couldn’t tell whether this feeling was illusion or reality.

Lu Beicheng’s face showed no expression, but the fury that had flashed in his eyes a moment ago had already faded. He asked quietly, “You just want to know who the Northern Emperor is?”